Angel, who is celebrating six months of sobriety from Fentanyl, opens up about his path to recovery, the struggles he faced, and the life-changing moments that led him to sobriety. He shares insights into the challenges of overcoming addiction, the pivotal moments that influenced his decision to seek help, and the transformation his life has undergone since becoming sober. The conversation highlights the importance of support systems, the various pathways to recovery, and the fulfillment that comes from being present and active in one's own life.

00:00 Introduction and Host Backgrounds

00:27 Angel's Early Recovery Journey

00:48 Exploring the Sober Community

02:15 Life in Recovery

05:18 Angel's Addiction History

07:24 Struggles with Fentanyl

11:28 Attempts to Get Clean

12:24 Manipulating the System

14:02 Probation and Deception

15:45 Hitting Rock Bottom

18:01 The Turning Point

19:58 Entering Detox

22:22 Path to Recovery

24:20 Life After Addiction

26:18 Advice for Newcomers

----Across the Web----

🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us

✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

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Serena Saunders, founder of Pawsitive Recovery, shares her heartfelt journey from a challenging childhood marked by her mother's schizophrenia and substance use, leading to her own struggles with drugs and alcohol starting at age 12. After years of ups and downs, Serena found recovery four years ago and turned her life around by creating Pawsitive Recovery. This unique program helps people in addiction and mental health treatment by providing foster care for their pets. Serena also talks about the importance of animal companionship in recovery and the services Pawsitive Recovery offers, including workshops and partnerships with local shelters. Learn how her dog Oscar inspired this life-saving initiative.

00:00 Introduction to Serena Saunders and Pawsitive Recovery

00:16 Serena's Childhood and Family Struggles

04:33 Early Substance Use and Teenage Years

05:58 Realizing the Need for Help

07:01 Journey to Sobriety and Recovery

11:22 Founding Pawsitive Recovery

14:25 Expanding Positive Recovery Nationwide

15:23 The Impact of Animals in Recovery

21:48 How to Get Involved and Final Thoughts

----Across the Web----

🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us

✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

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🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

Ben Kaye shares his powerful story of recovery after years caught in the world of chemsex—a term used to describe using drugs like crystal meth, GBL, and mephedrone to enhance sex, lower inhibitions, and feel more connected during sexual encounters, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. What started as weekend partying turned into daily drug use and emotional isolation. Ben opens up about how trauma, loneliness, and the search for love led him to addiction, including injecting meth to feel a sense of control and connection. In this honest and eye-opening conversation, Ben explains how chemsex became his way of coping, and how treatment, community, and time helped him rebuild his life. Now a therapist, he helps others find healing too.

00:00 – Intro: Meet Ben Kaye
01:05 – An idyllic childhood shattered at 15
02:21 – First experiences with substances
04:00 – Moving to London, coming out, and the party scene
05:30 – Why the party lifestyle became so appealing
07:00 – Functioning addict or barely functioning?
08:22 – When weekend use turned into daily meth use
09:27 – Injecting crystal meth: how it started
10:45 – What is Chemsex? Breaking it down
12:00 – The rise of Chemsex culture and hookup apps
13:10 – Why young people are at risk
14:24 – Looking for love, not just drugs
15:30 – What intimacy looks like without drugs
16:50 – How Ben got help and started recovery
18:28 – The mental health impact of heavy drug use
20:00 – Starting over through treatment and support
21:50 – Learning to enjoy life sober
23:00 – Becoming a therapist and helping others
25:00 – Advice for anyone starting recovery

🔔 Subscribe for more real stories of healing and hope.
📲 Connect with Ben: https://benkayetherapy.com | @justbenkaye
🎙️ Ben’s Podcast: Really Queer on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

----Across the Web----

🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us

✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

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🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

In this episode of the Recovery Matters podcast, Michelle Ketchum celebrates her first year of sobriety. Michelle discusses her journey from a toxic relationship and substance use to finding the strength to seek help and enter rehab. She shares her experiences of personal growth, the importance of community, and her involvement in sober living and activities through organizations like The Phoenix and Smart Recovery. Michelle also talks about fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a published author. Her story is an inspiring example of overcoming adversity and finding hope and support in recovery.

00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions

00:38 Early Life and Family Support

01:30 High School and First Encounters with Drugs

06:28 College Life and Denial of Addiction

13:54 Toxic Relationships and Hitting Rock Bottom

22:28 Facing Rehab Fears

22:57 The Rehab Experience

24:18 Building New Friendships

27:31 Life After Rehab

28:31 Managing a Sober House

30:13 Discovering New Passions

38:05 Becoming an Author

43:36 The Phoenix and Smart Recovery

46:24 Advice for Newcomers

----Across the Web----

🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us

✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO...

🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok

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🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/

🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery

📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery

🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

In this candid episode of the Recovery Matters Podcast, we sit down with Carter Graves, founder of KMFK Safety Services and Executive Director of Grassroots Harm Reduction. Carter shares their journey of growing up in a household shaped by meth use, navigating personal trauma, and redefining recovery through harm reduction and managed methamphetamine use. With courage, humor, and radical transparency, Carter challenges traditional recovery narratives and offers powerful insights into drug policy, peer-led safety, and what it truly means to heal.

Whether you're in recovery, support harm reduction, or are curious about alternatives to abstinence-based models—this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

00:00 - Carter introduces themselves and their definition of recovery
00:27 - Growing up with a single mother and generational meth use
01:48 - The trauma, poverty, and strength of Carter's family story
03:00 - Early substance use: Adderall, ecstasy, and meth
04:30 - Mother’s death and escalation of use
05:56 - The 2020 uprisings and how a street medic changed everything
06:58 - Quitting meth for three years and entering abstinence-based recovery
08:59 - The physical and emotional toll of abstinence
10:00 - Long COVID and reevaluating recovery
11:00 - Creative life, relapse language, and return to use
12:00 - What is reagent drug checking?
13:20 - Origin story: DanceSafe, MDMA testing, and community care
15:09 - Honoring people where they are on the spectrum of use
17:28 - “Brave space” over “safe space”
18:41 - TJ shares faith-based perspective on harm reduction
20:00 - The roots of KMFK and “Candy F***ing Carter”
21:45 - Expanding into condoms, Plan B, and other peer services
23:11 - From underground raves to national recognition
24:56 - Carter’s current roles at PA Groundhogs and more
25:10 - Learning harm reduction tools for meth use
26:50 - Proper dosing, sleep, and hydration strategies
28:20 - Setting personal boundaries and red flags
30:08 - Support system and what keeps Carter grounded
31:30 - Where to find Carter and KMFK online

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• https://grassrootsharmreduction.org
• https://pagroundhogs.org
• https://linktr.ee/kmfksafetyservices
• KMFK Safety Services on Instagram & Facebook
• 📧 Contact Carter: contactcartergraves@gmail.com

📢 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode to support honest conversations around addiction recovery, substance use, and harm reduction.

----Across the Web----

🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us

✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

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🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok

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📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery

🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 181 | TJ and Mickey delve into Mickey's personal journey of long-term recovery. Mickey shares her raw and inspiring story, starting from her early exposure to alcohol and drugs, leading up to a DUI that became the turning point in her life. She speaks candidly about her struggles with addiction to various substances, including alcohol, cannabis, and prescription medications. Mickey also discusses her traumatic childhood experiences, which included abuse and neglect, and how these influenced her path toward addiction. Through sheer determination and multiple therapeutic approaches, including AA, holistic practices, and therapy, Mickey has transformed her life. She reflects on the spiritual experiences that reconnected her with a higher power and the importance of community support in her recovery journey. Mickey's story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of seeking help and building a new life, free from substances.

00:00 Introduction and Host Backgrounds

00:22 Mickey's Early Exposure to Substances

01:05 High School and Early Drug Use

02:57 Struggles with Addiction and Employment

06:16 Family and Childhood Trauma

09:46 Return to Connecticut and Continued Addiction

13:46 The Turning Point: DUI and Therapy

16:30 Journey to Sobriety and AA Meetings

19:52 Exploring Alternative Recovery Paths

21:17 Spiritual Awakening and Nature's Influence

23:24 Ongoing Recovery and Therapy

25:36 Final Thoughts and Advice for Newcomers

----Across the Web----

🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us

✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO...

🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok

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🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/

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🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

Host TJ takes listeners live to the State Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut for Recovery Day. The event features an array of voices, including State Representative Robin Comey, Senator Saud Anwar, and Representatives Patrick Biggins and Devin Kearney, among others, who share their personal stories and legislative efforts to support individuals in recovery. Key discussions include the importance of removing the stigma associated with addiction, the potential benefits of Overdose Prevention Centers, and the need for robust community support and resources. The episode highlights the interconnected nature of recovery, community well-being, and legislative advocacy, emphasizing that recovery is a journey that involves everyone. Recovery Matters Podcast Episode 180

00:00 Introduction to Recovery Matters Podcast

00:26 State Representative Robin Comey's Personal Recovery Journey

02:54 Senator Saud Anwar on Overdose Prevention

07:18 Patrick Biggins on Youth and Recovery

08:43 Students for Recovery: Advocacy and Support

11:29 Taylor Aitken on Legislative Support for Recovery

13:47 Mike Pohl on Community Recovery Efforts

17:42 State Representative Devin Kearney on the Importance of Recovery

18:39 State Representative Toni Walker on Embracing Recovery

21:46 Stacy Sharpentier on Funding and Recovery Support

23:56 Conclusion and Resources for Recovery

----Across the Web----

🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us

✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO...

🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok

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🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/

🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery

📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery

🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery

From a childhood marked by trauma and instability to multiple incarcerations, heroin addiction, and even surviving a gunshot to the head—Rick opens up about the chaos that defined his past and the redemption he’s found in recovery.

Rick reflects on the moment he finally surrendered on February 5, 2008, and how that surrender sparked a transformation that's helped him become a community leader, father, and advocate. He shares how meaningful work—including launching Redemption House and running recovery housing for over a decade—continues to give his life purpose.

🔥 Key Topics Covered:

• Rick’s early life and introduction to drugs at age 13
• Escaping a wilderness program and his first encounters with the justice system
• Surviving a near-fatal shooting during a robbery gone wrong
• Going to prison—and later choosing recovery while incarcerated
• Getting clean in 2008 and rebuilding his life
• The power of service, connection, and purpose in recovery
• The creation and impact of Redemption House, a safe bridge for those who relapse
• How one redemption bed can save the state $141,000/year
• Inspiring success stories of people who found hope through recovery housing
• The role of CCAR and recovery coaching in sustained wellness

00:00 Introduction and Host Backgrounds

00:32 Rick's Early Life and Family Struggles

01:25 Teenage Years and First Encounters with Drugs

02:19 Legal Troubles and Juvenile Detention

02:57 Escaping and Continued Struggles

03:57 First Prison Sentence and Continued Drug Use

06:23 Near-Death Experience and Hospitalization

09:33 Recovery Journey and Sober Living

11:05 Life in Recovery and Helping Others

12:29 The Redemption House Initiative

13:47 Building Community Relationships

14:15 The Role of Redemption House

14:46 Support Services at Redemption House

15:12 Success Stories and Future Plans

16:01 The Importance of Recovery Community

16:16 Personal Recovery Journeys

18:07 The Financial Impact of Redemption House

19:00 The Need for Long-Term Recovery Support

20:53 Self-Love and Purpose in Recovery

22:09 Inspiring Personal Stories

24:27 Exciting Future Projects

24:50 Concluding Thoughts on Recovery

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• 🎧 Risen From the Ashes: The Redemption Podcast (Rick’s other podcast) – Available on Spotify
• 🏠 Redemption House – A nonprofit recovery bridge for individuals who relapse
• 🤝 CCAR – Get connected with a Recovery Coach: https://ccar.us

----Across the Web----

🌎 CCAR Website https://www.ccar.us

✉️ Donate: https://ccar.us/donate/

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Apple Music): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

🎙Recovery Matters Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1wGUMMO...

🗣Recovery Matters Podcast TikTok

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🗣Recovery Matters Podcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recoverymatterspodcast/

🗣CCAR Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCAR4Recovery

📸CCAR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ccar4recovery

🐦CCAR Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccar4recovery